As the Israel-Iran conflict continues into its sixth day, with Iran issuing , disagreements are emerging across the political landscape regarding the appropriate U.S. response under President Donald Trump. Trump’s openness to has generated and beyond, significantly affecting his relationship with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Tucker Carlson, who now hosts The Tucker Carlson Show after his departure from Fox News in 2023, has historically maintained a cordial relationship with Trump. He conducted an exclusive interview with Trump during the 2024 election, and they .
However, on June 13, Carlson voiced his opposition to any U.S. military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict, stating that the “real divide” lies between “those who casually encourage violence, and those who seek to prevent it—between warmongers and peacemakers.”
Carlson identified individuals he considered “warmongers,” including those urging Donald Trump to initiate airstrikes and direct U.S. military action against Iran, via .
The podcast host named several Republicans, prominent business figures, and media personalities, such as Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rupert Murdoch, Ike Perlmutter, and Miriam Adelson, adding that “At some point they will all have to answer for this, but you should know their names now.”
Trump was when asked by reporters to comment .
“I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,” the President stated.
Later that day, to criticize Carlson further.
“Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he posted.
Some Republican commentators and lawmakers, typically supporters of Trump’s “America First” policies, have defended Carlson amidst Trump’s escalation, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Greene stated that Carlson is ” and he “unapologetically believes the same things” she does.
“[F]oreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction,” Greene argued. “That’s not kooky. That’s what millions of Americans voted for. It’s what we believe is America First.”
Carlson reinforced his position on Steve Bannon’s podcast, , on Monday, cautioning that involvement in the Middle East could “weaken” the U.S., predicting, “I think we’re going to see the end of the American empire.”
Bannon, who was the White House’s chief strategist early in Trump’s term, has also advocated for U.S. non-intervention in the Middle East.
Carlson’s stance has diverged from other prominent Republicans regarding the Israel-Iran situation.
Notably, he and Texas Senator Ted Cruz during a podcast interview released on Wednesday.
“How could you not know that?” Carlson questioned in disbelief after Cruz couldn’t provide the population of Iran (which Carlson stated was around 92 million).
After Cruz stated that he doesn’t “sit around and memorize population tables,” Carlson responded: “Well, it’s kind of relevant, because you’re calling for the overthrow of the government.”
The two continued to debate about their knowledge of Iran, the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, and the appropriate level of U.S. involvement in the current conflict.
“We’re carrying out military strikes today,” Cruz asserted. Carlson then pointed out that Cruz and other U.S. officials had stated that the strikes were being carried out by Israel, making Cruz’s “we” a curious choice of wording. Cruz clarified: “With our help. I said ‘we.’ Israel is leading, but we’re supporting them.”
“You just said ‘we’ were,” Carlson countered. “This is high stakes. You’re a Senator. If you’re saying the United States government is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.”
Cruz following the interview with Carlson, claiming that Carlson’s question was a “silly game” and that the former Fox News host had “attacked” Trump and AIPAC during their conversation.
Trump has also used the “we” phrasing in his posts.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff,’” he wrote on Tuesday. “Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.”
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